Al-Zarqawi's successor vows to avenge his death

SYLVIA HUIAssociated Press Writer

Published Wednesday, June 14, 2006

CAIRO, Egypt -- The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq vowed to avenge the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and threatened horrific attacks "in the coming days," according to a Web statement Tuesday -- the first from the new terrorist leader.

The statement was posted a day after the group announced that a man identified by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Muhajer would succeed the Jordanian-born militant as its leader.

"You crusaders, what will happen in the coming days is something that will turn your children's hair white -- battles that will reveal the falsehood of (your) might, the weakness of your soldiers and your lies," the statement said.

Defense presentation in Saddam's trial ended

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The judge declared an end to the defense phase of Saddam Hussein's trial on Tuesday, shrugging off protests from the former Iraqi leader's lawyers that they have not had a fair chance to present their case and want to put more witnesses on the stand.

The nearly 8-month-old trial now moves into closing arguments, with the prosecution starting Monday, followed by the defense starting July 10. That means the judges could call a recess as early as mid-July to consider verdicts in the case against Saddam and seven of his former regime members for alleged crimes against humanity.

The eight could face execution by hanging if convicted.

Israeli airstrike targeting militants kills 8 civilians

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- An Israeli airstrike on a top Palestinian rocket launcher and his accomplice also killed two children and six other civilians Tuesday, inflaming Palestinian anger already aroused over the deaths of Gaza beachgoers.

The violence coincided with bloody infighting among Palestinian gunmen, and could hurt attempts by President Mahmoud Abbas and the West to pressure the Hamas government to moderate its virulently anti-Israel stance.

Abbas accused Israel of "state terrorism," and the Islamic Jihad militant group vowed to avenge the death of its chief rocket launcher, Hamoud Wadiya.

Power restored to U.S. mission in Cuba

HAVANA -- Electricity was restored Tuesday to the U.S. mission in Cuba after Washington accused Fidel Castro's government of deliberately cutting off the building's power and Havana angrily denied it.

U.S. Interests Section Chief Michael Parmly said power to the building, which was cut June 5, was restored midmorning. Parmly said he still believed the weeklong power outage was deliberate, despite the Cuban government's adamant denials.

"I find it hard to explain otherwise," Parmly said. "They are denying it now because it became public."

Hawking says humans must spread out in space

HONG KONG -- The survival of the human race depends on its ability to find new homes elsewhere in the universe because there's an increasing risk that a disaster will destroy the Earth, world-renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking said Tuesday.

Humans could have a permanent base on the moon in 20 years and a colony on Mars in the next 40 years, the British scientist told a news conference.

"It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species," Hawking said. "Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster ..."